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Kate Recycled Her Glittering JP for A Taste of Norfolk

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Not all charity galas are created equal. It is always a gracious touch and a special draw when a fundraiser is held a private home and when a special guest is added to the mix. Tonight the private home was the magnificent Houghton Hall, a Palladian mansion set in the rolling lush hills of the Norfolk countryside, and the special guest was the glittering Duchess of Cambridge herself. The event, dubbed A Taste of Norfolk, saw an elite group of philanthropists gather toward dusk to clink champagne glasses and toast EACH's capital campaign.

The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge were both honored guests at what was a thank-you event that took place a hop, skip, and a jump from their own Anmer Hall hideaway located just a few miles down the road. Kate and William arrived by chauffeured Jaguar and were greeted on the front steps by their friends and hosts the Marquess and Marchioness of Cholmondeley.

You might recall that in Downton Abbey [final season spoiler alert] when Edith married she was raised to the exalted rank of Marchioness. Rose and David are chums of the Cambridges and are members of the Norfolk set with whom the royals enjoy socializing in country. Interestingly, before she married, the Marchioness was a fashion-model, so the women make quite a striking duo. (Tonight the hostess chose Valentino.)

Their hosts didn't waste much time getting drinks into the royals' hands and the meeting & greeting got going. Kate very, very rarely ever drinks publicly, although we know that she does in private, but tonight she was clearly holding a glass of wine. Although it doesn't look like she was making the same headway as her companions, it underlines the intimacy of the evening. She seemed to view it more like a personal social event and less like a work one.

You probably remember that Kate helped launch the capital campaign in 2014 while in the early stages of her pregnancy with Princess Charlotte. She was the obvious choice to lead the appeal given her heavy involvement with EACH and the fact that the new facility will be right in her Norfolk backyard.

Guests were entertained tonight by a number of performances while the evening glow cast a flattering golden tone across all assembled. I know many a fashionista prayer was answered when it was revealed that Kate had recycled the blush sequined evening gown she first debuted at the Ark gala in 2011. Tonight, it absolutely glittered as it was brushed by the setting sun.

This dress's debut was the very first public engagement that Kate undertook as a royal, if you discount Epsom, which I do. It seems so long ago and at the same time the excitement still feels fresh. I remember when it was announced that the gown Kate was wearing was by Jenny Packham. Little did any of us know what an extraordinary and lasting collaborative relationship would blossom there. It was the first of many Packham evenings, but I think for many it remains one of the best.

Tonight's recycle, with the same L.K. Bennett shoes and Prada clutch, was particularly lovely because Kate wore her hair in a chignon, revealing the diaphanous, rolled neckline which had been obscured by Kate's incredible, post-marriage locks before.

This was the perfect dress for this night. The beading caught the setting sun and the soft blush pink blended perfectly with the peaceful backgrounds. It is a glamorous dress that held its own at a power-packed London gala, but seemed gentle and alluring at this more sedate, albeit no less pricey, dinner party. Kate added even more sparkle to the ensemble with her earrings loaned from Her Majesty and the diamond encrusted bracelet, also loaned from the Queen, that we first saw at the China State Banquet.

This was an event we have been looking forward to for many months. There were not as many pictures as we would get at a big fundraiser in London and we had to wait for poor Richard Palmer to drive five miles up the road to find cell reception to text out the first early photos of what Kate was wearing, but A Taste of Norfolk did not disappoint. It was everything I had hoped for from a gala at one of Britain's palatial estates. Kate was glowing, the gown was glittering...it was a success! It's hard to believe that June 9, 2011 is already five years in the rearview, but time hasn't dulled the Duchess a bit. See you soon for more royal adventures!

Yes exactly. If you weren't there personally then what are you basing this conjecture on? Kate looked SO stunning. Loved her hair in the low chignon - revealed her beautiful long neck, the chandelier earrings, and the cut of her gown. Rose's Valentino also lovely. She was a model but is also from an aristocratic lineage.

From the way the three photographers, possibly four (the partial person on the edge) plus the one snapping were lined up, I think there may have been a limited photo-op momentrather than roving photographers throughout the cocktail hour.They were probably snapping fast and furiously over a short period of time. William may have had a fleetingthoughtful expression, as Dale said.

The wine level in Kate's glass stayed the same.Yeah,I noticed that. In my college days I sometimes carried a glass without drinking.If everyone else is walking about with glass in hand, it would look odd not to.She certainly has that glass/purse juggle down to an art.

I knew she would recycle this gown tonight! Simply stunning and I love the diamond lovelies that she added. The Marchioness looked lovely too in a different way-- I think the two ladies complemented each other without outshining each other. Wouldn't Kate look lovely in some Valentino red? My next pick for her to rewear is the teal Jenny Packham she wore to the Olympic gala in 2012. Maybe at the Art Awards dinner in July? Shine on HRH!!!!

Agreed, the Marchioness looked lovely in a different way. While her and Kate are both tall slender brunettes, Rose has more of a bohemian style...and if you Google them as a couple her husband has even been known to wear sneakers with a suit. Style-wise they are a more eccentric couple than the Cambridges (and perhaps in other ways too, that's just the only aspect I can form an opinion on based on photos).

I liked Rose's look too. Very expensive and effortlessly chic. Im a sucker for embroidery over sheer material. Complements the old grandeur of her home and grounds nicely. She must be an interesting lady.

Agree HoosierLori and Anon 7:20. I think Rose has a great look both in features and dress but it is different from Kate's. I like both styles and both of their looks. Both gorgeous women. The snake dress Rose wore at Ascot is clearly not everyones cup of tea but it was a very elegantly designed dress.

This is for me-not merely one of the best gowns that the Duchess has ever worn,but THE best gown the Duchess has ever worn.(I know a wedding dress is a different special occasion gown and so for some this will be an unfair comparison,but in terms of just which gown looks better to my eye this one wins).This is the gown that I wish I could wear.As much as I liked Kate's post wedding locks,I think that an up do suits this gown more.With an up do we can admire the neckline.

Gorgeous! The first photo described Catherine's gown as being the one she wore for the Los Angeles BAFTA, but even in the rather dark photo, it obviously was not.They were fortunate to be able to have an out-of-doors reception, considering all the rain there has been, but such a gracious setting. Envied the manicured lawns!

Loved the hair, enjoyed the second wearing of this Packham gown--especially appreciated my first good look at the neckline and shoulders, much more charming than I thought--, but, the jewellery...sigh. The earrings, thankfully, are relatively lightweight, as those belonging to the Crown go, but...somehow, the way they hang seems askew. As for the bracelet, it is very heavy, no doubt very expensive, but unless you're into 19th century fashion, terribly dated, lacking style--may never have had any once refashioned from its original life into a bracelet.

The other accessories, the clutch and shoes, were as terrific the second time round as they were the first.

This whole event gave every appearance of being utterly lovely--to be sure, I would need the menu; my stomach would tell me how much to donate. (Hey, I can't be the only one who has overtipped when the food and service deserved it...can I?) More to the point, I have read that the British aren't generous donors, by nature. I do hope that the evening proved profitable for EACH, one of my fav Kate charities; pretty hard for the wealthy to find a valid reason to turn down a legitimate request for desperately needed funds to pick up the slack the government has overlooked.

And speaking of people vs government, I can't wait to see the results of todays British referendum!

I have to disagree about the jewelry JC. I feel impressive pieces like these never go out of fashion. The heaviness of the bracelet translates into opulence for me. I think it works really well with the sleek lines of this dress where it might appear too much with a fussy over the top ball gown.

I was trying to imagine the Charles wedding gift bracelet with this. It is one of my favorites anywhere but I think Faith has a good point: I think this gown would overwhelm that bracelet, compared to the lilac McQueen gown, which would allow thebracelet to stand on its own. This dress may be sleeker than some-the unulatingsheen with the twilight ambiance, as someone mentioned, highlights the elegance-yet it IS simpler design-wise than,say, a black lace gown. I don't think thisbig-gun bauble would work with one of them.Plus, it is saying," I'm wearing the Queen's jewels. I belong here."

I also have to disagree about the jewelry, JC. Estate pieces (either replicated or original) are very popular today and this bracelet is so gorgeous. I think it compliments the shimmer of the dress very nicely. The earrings do hang a bit askew but, in my opinion, that's what all chandelier earrings do. This particular pair are stunning.

JC, five years and two children later, I want to see Kate struggling with the weight of some major royal jewelry. Considering the jewels Camilla has access to, isn't it fitting, and well deserved, for Kate to have access to some historical pieces?

And I admit to having a vision of Kate in a simple and sleek black evening gown, with this bracelet worn as a choker. Talk about a wow-moment.

I believe Diana had at least a few chokers that featured a large sapphire on each one. I wonder who has these? Have we not seen them because they are Harry's and he doesn't have a wife yet? Or were they split between William and Harry? Has William gifted one or some to Kate, but for whatever reason she hasn't worn it/them publicly?

When it comes to Diana's jewelry I also wonder if we'll have to wait until Charlotte is older to see some of them worn. Perhaps it all wasn't given to Kate, and maybe William/Kate decided to set some aside in case they have a daughter. I think it is fair to see some jewelry skip a generation.

I think you're right, A. Fans might love to see Diana's iconic pieces on Catherine,but there are likely many whom it may offend. Not the least of which, Kate andDiana's extended family. I don't think there would be an objection to Charlotte's debuting some. She is Earl Spencer's great niece and of Spencer heritage.

We may have to content ourselves with the Cambridge tiara for now. And whateversapphires, earrings etc. Kate already has adapted.I would not like to see the chokers worn by someone not of Diana's blood. If she had died of old age or from natural causes-it might be viewed differently.

Diana had some gorgeous sapphires she had made into chokers - at least two of them. She also had an emerald set that was incredible. Some of these may belong to Harry, some may have been put away for awhile. Diana also had a lot of pearls. The multi-strand pearl choker with the large sapphire that Camilla wears is so similar to Diana's that I think it's really tacky for the Duchess of Cornwall to wear it.

I think the bracelet is gorgeous and in fact not dated looking. To my eye it is a pretty classic wide cuff style design which I see in new pieces today. The earrings look more dated. She would look good in a choker but I can not imagine her in the styles Diana wore with a big center stone. ali

A, I agree that chokers may not be Kate's cup of tea, but what a pity because she has a lovely neck and shoulders. It would look absolutely stunning on her! And yes, Faith, better now than later ... although, Princess Michael isn't shy about bringing attention to her neck and it works!

Anon 1, are you referring to members of the RF being offended by Kate wearing chokers previously worn by Diana? IMO, the Spencer's would be proud and touched to see William's wife wearing the jewels, and I don't see a reason for the Middleton's to object. What am I missing? :)

Robin, Diana did have several gorgeous chokers ... some smaller than others! But all lovely and the look worked quite well on her; I believe Kate would be equally successful. By the way, good point about Diana's pearl and sapphire choker. :(

If only those "related by blood" should wear certain jewelry then Diana's jewelry isn't the only issue...many women who wear royal jewelry--including Kate--"married in" and aren't blood relations to the original owner. Of course, jewelry that belongs to the Spencer family is a different matter. It is theirs to do as they see fit (and sometimes not even a choice for them as the rules predetermine)

I do think (as I said when JC mentioned Diana's ring a few months ago) reserving *some* of Diana's things for Charlotte and for any future daughters Will OR Harry might have makes sense. Having Kate wear it ALL might seem heavy-handed and look like an attempt to imitate Diana. I agree though one choker would be nice to see!

Royalfan, I'll never get over Charles Spencer's indictment of the RF at Diana's funeral. I was mostly thinking of Charles and his sisters. I get a vibe somehowthat they aren't that close to Catherine. I realise the one sister is godmotherto Charlotte, I believe. I just think William and Kate are very sensitive to this.Her showing up at some big royal hoo-hah do in a Diana choker might send thingsover the edge.I even wonder if some of the jewels aren't in Spencer custody.

There have reportedly been issues over how Diana's brother managed her estate, her resting place-charging admission to a museum etc. Some of it could be tabloidhype and I try not to believe everything I read in the papers. Charles S. showed muchhurt and anger at the funeral-all toward the RF, if I recall correctly. Williammay be his nephew, but he IS a member of the BRF. So is Catherine.I can't imagine W&C would hold these feelings against him, because on some levelI think William understands them quite well. I think, considering the kindness thecouple have displayed many times in other situations, they would not wish to do anything that wouldseem insensitive, at this point.I think Diana's engagement ring was specifically left to Willam in Diana's will,possibly with the intention of his using it for his future Princess of Wales.It is not the same to me as the iconic chokers, emeralds etc. The Cambridge/Lovers Knot tiarawasn't, reportedly, a favorite of Diana's and at any rate belongs to HM.The Spencer tiara Diana wore in her wedding remains in Spencer possession, as it should.

Anon 1, Charles Spencer's speech was an indictment, but it needed to be said - every bit of it- and the public's response immediately afterwards spoke volumes. After that, I believe the Spencer family did respect the position William and Harry were in and kept a low profile.

And, as Anon suggests, I believe there is a relationship behind the scenes which makes it easier, and diplomatic, for both sides. I recall seeing photos of Kate sitting with Lady Sarah (Diana's sister) at one of William's graduations and they appeared to be comfortable together. And this may be speculation, but I think it is somewhat safe to assume that the Spencer's love W&H and want the best for them. Given what Kate (and her family), represent in William's life, I would imagine that they are very happy with his choice. And the choice of Laura Fellowes as a godmother for Charlotte also speaks volumes about the connection that exists, and the one they want to create in Charlotte's life.

But to go back to the idea of Kate wearing Diana's jewels, I honestly cannot imagine the Spencer's begrudging their nephew that, or holding it against his wife. If anything, they should be proud to see them being worn by the girl who is a true blessing in William's life. Would it be better for the jewels to be kept out of sight, along with the memories of Diana that they represent? You know my vote! :))

Faith, it's true that "work" does help! :))

This is a link to a website featuring Diana's jewels... It isn't possible to do a search under "choker", but the necklaces are divided into three sections.

Anon 1, if I were HM, I would see to it that Kate has full access to the jewels worn by Diana. What a strong visual "baton" linking Diana, a very popular Princess of Wales who should have been the next Queen, to her son and his wife.

Part of me wishes the Queen many more years of good health, and part of me hopes to live to see William's coronation. In the interim, I will dissolve an Alka Seltzer or two.

Obviously we are all just guessing what the Spencer family would think about seeing Kate wearing Diana's jewelry. If they ARE bothered, then its my guess they are likely bothered by seeing "the ring" regularly too as likely 90% of photos taken of Kate seem to feature the ring. It doesn't make sense to me that the ring would be OK with them but most other things not OK. (Or rather that Will would be worried about other pieces and not the ring) Also, while WE might view other pieces of Diana's jewelry as "iconic" Diana's siblings would have a whole different experience with her than we do. Our memories of her began pretty much with her marriage and were developed based on "iconic" photographs and news reports. Their memories are quite different and personal. Unless Diana's jewelry includes Spencer family pieces that some in the Spencer family think should have been returned to them, they may not really care about the jewelry. Its also possible W&H have come to an agreement on their own not related to the Spencers.

Jumping back in ... why are we concerned about what the Spencer's think of Diana's jewelry? My guess is that most of her jewels and jewelry were acquired from her marriage to Charles (wedding gifts, gifts from other sovereigns, etc) or borrowed/gifted by the Queen. I don't doubt there was possibly some Spencer jewelry she wore, like the tiara on her wedding day, but I assume most jewelry was gifted to her as Princess of Wales or loaned to her.

Maybe we speculate some Spencer's may find it hard to see Kate wear it, but if they don't own the jewelry they can't control it. I also agree with those who think the Spencer's probably like Kate well enough - it isn't like a Windsor wearing Diana's jewelry. Kate is their sister's daughter-in-law who their nephew chose. If Camilla or the York girls wore anything Diana iconically wore I think backlash would be justified.

...and there you have it, A. Skip a generation and at least one of those likely won'tbe around.Official gifts she received as Princess of Wales are logged in and weren't hers topass on. Those, Camilla could use. Camilla has made jeweled pearl chokers almost her signiture piece. Perhaps the impact of Catherine's wearing one of Diana's at this point has taken on a different meaning.

I will check royalfan's link to see if the disposition of individual items is listed. Personal gifts would have been part of herestate and parceled out to specific people in her will. Her sisters, close friends could nowown pieces, including the chokers.As her sons were minors at her death,some jewels would have been kept in trust for them.It amazes me that Diana was so well-prepared for her death, with such a detailedwill. From some of the details that have been published, she must have played adominent part in the contents-not leaving it to the lawyers.I will say, it would take a very special occasion to bring out the chokers, if Catherine does have access. I personally would get immense satisfaction if she wouldfirst appear in one with her first public wearing of the Family Order. It just seemsright to me, somehow.

Jumping back in on this conversation as well. First off, yes, Faith, Diana had a lovely amethyst choker. She also wore a beautiful diamond and ruby necklace as a choker at one point. I do think Kate would look lovely in any of them.

anon 1, the site royalfan recommended is an excellent place to see what Diana wore but not what happened to each piece. I don't think anybody knows that for sure - except, of course, the engagement ring.

The Spencer family didn't own anything Diana wore except the Spencer tiara. They should have no objections to whatever Diana wore being worn by Kate.

I agree with royalfan that what Earl Spencer said at Diana's funeral needed to be said. I, however, don't like him. In subsequent biographies I've read by those close to Diana, she and her brother were not on speaking terms at the time of her death. Yes, he spoke truth about how she was treated and how much the public liked her - title or not. However, he was taking his moment in the sun when he hadn't treated her well himself. The reason they were not on speaking terms is because 1) When Diana divorced, she asked if she could move into Althorp after her divorce, instead of continuing to live in a home owned by the BRF, since he was living in South Africa. He said no. 2) Once she lost her HRH title he requested the Spencer tiara be returned to him as she was no longer titled HRH. Way to kick a person while they're down!

The only sister she remained closer to was Jane. She knew the in and outs (and issues) of the RF because her husband had been equerry to the Queen. I imagine that's why she is a godmother to one of William's children. I don't think we'll see Charles Spencer or Sarah Spencer McCorquodale have any such honor.

Also, anon 1, I just read Dickie Arbiter's biography (he was their press secretary and very fond of Diana) and he said that, while her will was in order, she had not done anything about her funeral. Most members of the BRF have funeral plans in place as to where the funeral will be held, what the program will be, what processions will take place, where they will lie in state, and where they will be buried. Diana had none of that. Of course, who thought she would die so young? But Charles, having been the heartless toad he was during their marriage, stepped up and he is the one who decided she should have a royal funeral. He worked with her family (and the logistics people at the Palace) to plan what she would have liked. It's obvious that he had no idea Earl Spencer would blast him and his family but, again, nothing he said wasn't true. The ones behind the scenes, although agreeing that what he said was true, thought it extremely inappropriate and disrespectful to say it in public and in front of Her Majesty. He was, however, repeating the sentiments of the public. There were no heroes that day except her boys. They were amazingly strong while being completely heartbroken. I'm sure Diana is up there looking down on them with pride for the men they have become.

Anon 1, I posted the link because of the discussion about Diana wearing chokers and the suggestion that Kate, too, would look great if she added them to her jewelry box. I didn't mean to suggest that it offered more insight. Sorry if I implied it... :)

Also... I agree that Kate may wear a choker for the first time on a more special occasion. I hadn't considered the FO; my thought was the next coronation. Don't ask me why, but that is where my mind wandered off to. :)

No, no , no! royalfan. It's a great site as is. Thank-you! I just thought I'dmention a possible distribution list, just in case.I did get a little moist-eyed, seeing Diana in all her glory-and also carrying on whenwe know in retrospect things were very bad indeed.I think the sapphire and pearl choker, shown with her velvet gown at the WhiteHouse , may be the most iconic of all. And then the Swan Lake suite-actually just the necklace then- thatshe wore in June, 1997- her last official appearance. Oh, dear!

Robin, I realize Diana had her share of ups and downs with members of the Spencer family, but in March 1997 she visited (and stayed with) Charles Spencer at his home in South Africa. I cannot begin to imagine all the family dynamics in place, with the added burden of what must have been extraordinary pressure from the Establishment given the Spencer's place in the royal circle.

I honestly didn't think of the speech as his moment in the sun; I thought of it as a brother standing up for his sister and, most likely, regretting that he didn't do it sooner (on a personal level). I actually had the opportunity to meet him briefly at Althorp (he was greeting people and signing books in the gift shop) and I found him to be very down to earth and appreciative of the fact the people were taking the time to honor his sister. I realize many people felt that he created the exhibit to make money, but I disagree; if that was his incentive, he could have taken full advantage of Diana when she was alive and had asked to live in a cottage on the estate.

I had no idea what to expect, but the exhibit was a lovely tribute to Diana and I'm sorry it closed. I can fully appreciate that W&H, as her sons, have a different view of it, but in all honesty, where else is there a similar tribute to her life and place in history? Where is her life celebrated vs. simply "included" because people expect it? At some point down the road, I do hope that some of the items from Althorp find a new home in the State Apartments at KP.

JC, are you still polishing that armor...or did it just drop to the floor, along with your jaw? ;)

Haha!Thank-you, royalfan, but I think there will be cheese enough to go around in the interim. But definitely, in the spirit of the GGs. By then, I guess I'll be Sophia.The question is-who will be the flirty one?

What did her brother say at her funeral?I'm 32 so I have memories of Diana's death and funeral, but don't know the details. Sounds like juicy gossip and I wonder if a camera ever panned over the BRF when it was said...

As for family dynamics, if he did tell her she couldn't live Althorp and she later visited him in South Africa, that could be family dysfunction "rules" at play. Whatever he may have done to hurt her she had very little family and I imagine was a damaged small girl inside. Barely speaking to your brother versus having no brother are two different things.

Here is a YouTube link to the Earl's speech. https://youtu.be/NOtDI_coe2g

The cameras were not allowed to show the BRF. Out of respect for William and Harry in their grief there were no videos or still shots of them during the service.

The Spencers were a very dysfunctional family due to the very high profile divorce between Diana's parents. Diana and her brother were part of a very bitter custody battle between their parents and, by Diana's own admission, it scarred her.

royalfan, I also wish the exhibit hadn't closed as I didn't get a chance to see it. It's nice to know he was there greeting people. There are, however, more tributes to Diana at KP now. I suspect it has to do with William and Harry making it their home again. When I was there in October I was surprised to see a huge blow up of one of Testino's photos of Diana in the main area where visitors arrive. There are also photos of W&K holding George at his Christening and of Princess Margaret but they are not half the size of the photo of Diana. Upstairs there is an exhibit of gowns worn by HM and Princess Margaret from the 50s and 60s and then there is a small room set aside that only has gowns worn by Diana. In the hallway leading to the lady's room there is wallpaper on the walls with watercolor depictions of Diana from some the the more famous photos of her. I had to do a double take to make sure that's what I was seeing and then had to photograph it! I was also pleased that in the gift shop there are many mementos recognizing Diana that can be purchased. They are all very tasteful china pieces, scarves, and a Christmas ornament - all done in pink and silver. Along the Diana Memorial Walk in Hyde Park you can also now see the playground named after her and the Diana Memorial Fountain. (I wish I could find somewhere the symbolism behind how the designer of the fountain chose his design. It's . . . different.) The fountain was officially opened by the Queen. I think, now that William and Harry are grown, some wrongs are being righted where Diana is concerned.

I'm not sure why the Earl opened the exhibit at Althorp, although it was certainly his privilege to do so. Last I heard was that, now that visitors aren't admitted anymore, her grave has been overrun by vines and weeds. Some photog with a long lens took a picture. I still think that, when William is King, he will have her moved.

A...I will let someone else who has a more "verbatim" memory of the event answer WHAT was said. (It was very critical and I was shockede) But no, the BRF was not shown during the funeral per agreement with the press (to shield W&H)

Lizzie, I can understand your "shock", but in order to fairly judge the speech, it is important to factor in ALL that came before it... The treatment of Diana by her husband and the royal family, all the negative spinning against her to make "others" look like innocent victims, taking away her title, the reaction (or lack of!) to her death... The Queen didn't even want Diana's body to be taken to a royal chapel since she was no longer a member of the royal family. Never mind her rank in W&H's lives! O-M-G!!! You get the idea, I'm sure.

Personally, I cheered every word and to hear the applause outside of the Abbey...and inside...spoke volumes. I followed the 24/7 coverage during the week between her death and the funeral and I'm not sure I have the appropriate words to describe it. I don't think I will ever experience anything like it.

Robin, Diana loved water and the fountain was designed to represent the turbulent and calmer periods of her life. Over the years, I have read a lot of criticism of the design, but speaking as someone who also happens to love water and takes regular walks at the beach even in frigid temps, I totally understand and appreciate the design. I do admit to not being keen on seeing people putting their feet in it, but I think Diana would appreciate the informality. :)

Robin, I apologize. It was not my intention to ignore the rest of your comment. Overall, I would say there are more tributes to Diana's life today than there were in the years immediately after her death. For a while there, it seemed that all reminders of her life were tucked away as if she never existed. As W&H have been able to play a more significant role in the Firm, I recognize that things have changed. And Amen to that. But I admit to not being very impressed with the playground (it was not in the best shape...as if it had been forgotten...)

Regarding the burial site, IMO, it was never lacking in the foliage department and I don't think William or Harry would tolerate it being neglected. But, obviously, I am not there to see it *today.*

Royalfan 4:54...My shock wasn't the content but the venue. Regardless of what sort of relationship W&H have or don't have today with the Spencers, it can't have been easy for them to hear that. I thought it needed to be said but not there. Charles S could have said the same thing publicly elsewhere and gotten as much attention without doing it during the funeral.

Okay, but where and when, Lizzie? Would it have been less of an attack on the RF if he said it one week, one month, or one year later? And could that have been seen as her own family not allowing her to rest in peace?

The speech was unprecedented, but so were the circumstances involved and I think the words needed to be said BEFORE she was laid to rest.

I guess I've just never been a fan of "intentionally wounding" eulogies said over the casket to "set the record straight" royalfan no matter the circumstances. And while we are all familar with the public circumstances here, unfortunately when a marriage fails and divorce/infidelity have occurred there are often pent-up resentments for some family members. In some ways this situation was more extreme (in part because of its public nature) but in other ways not so much (So far as I know there wasn't physical abuse by Charles for example or any beating of the children) And I'm not sure that Diana herself would have rested easier knowing W&H were put through that speech. But that's just my opinion as we can't know and I respect that others think differently. As much attention as Diana's death garnered world-wide though I am sure Charles S could have found another opportunity before the burial. But he was determined to strike out it seemed to me regardless of the effect on W&H.

At the time, I thought CS's eulogy was brilliant but as the years have made me older and, I hope, wiser, I've come to view it as fairly bad form. Although what he said was true, it wasn't the time nor place for such a blatant attack on thr RF. I can't imagine how the boys felt. Already, it was the second worst day of their young lives, and to have their father and grandmother publically shamed on top must have been horrendous. Spencer could have said what he wanted to say in a different forum at a different time. I feel that he took away some of the dignity with which Diana was buried with his choice of words.

I understand that Diana loved the water and the rough and calmer parts of her life, and it also looks like a stylized "D" from above, I just would love to have the designer explain all the different textures and such that he used. I'm sure every inch was planned with a specific thing in mind so it would be nice to hear from him what he was thinking. I did like the fountain and I think Diana would like that the children can dangle their feet in it. The playground has been cleaned up and looked quite good when I was there about 8 months ago.

As we've both said, now that William and Harry are grown up and living quite close to all of these things there is more respect being shown. I do remember trips over within the first 5 years of her death and you're absolutely right, it really was like they were trying to erase her from history. It will never happen. Her sons will keep her alive and teach their children to do the same.

Lizzie and Faith, with 20/20 hindsight perhaps CS would have done things differently. And with the same 20/20 hindsight, perhaps the RF would have done things differently, including their response to her death. Perhaps the initial planning and silence from the RF was the final straw ... we will never know.

I just read the speech again and aside from the reference to needing "no royal title to continue to generate her particular brand of magic" and the reference to "blood family", which was followed by "We fully respect the heritage into which they have both been born and will always respect and encourage them in their royal role...", it was not ALL about the royals. It was very much about Diana and her life. I may be in the minority here, but I think it was an excellent speech and quite fitting given ALL of the circumstances involved.

Robin, here are two links on the Fountain... The first gives the reasoning behind it that I recall reading about in more than one source, and the second has extraordinary photos and details regarding the design.

Amazing how 5 years and two kids and she can still wear the same clothes as before!! Love the hair and diamonds!! I think it puts a whole new spin on the dress.. Gorgeous for sure!!!!

I asked a few questions on the post on Royal Ascot.. Please, if u don't mind answering one or two???? One more question.. When Kate,Camilla,Anne, etc borrow from the Queen do they give it straight back or just put it with their other jewelry? Safe, room, whatever they meant.. I sure haven't been back but oh well ABSOLUTELY at my son's???

Sorry, Valerie, I have been running from one thing to the next. I will pop over there next and see if I can answer your questions. To this one, though, I suspect that the Queen lends for the long haul. Legally there are ways she could give the pieces to Kate for her lifetime at which point they'd revert back to the Crown, too. I think those earrings stay in Kate's jewelry box.

@ Anon at 10:27 am. Well...modern, for one thing. IMO, the current monarch has rarely added to her jewellery cache, unlike others before her. But, to be more specific, I would like to see Kate in white diamond hoop earrings, modern cut on the diamonds, and about the same size as the Cartier set she wore--and probably borrowed--from Cartier. As for the bracelet, either a single, slim white diamond circle, or a few bangles, in white diamond, of course. All white diamonds to be set in either white gold or platinum, and all should be hot off the press: MODERN.

I have to agree with Faith - I think she likely owns the Cartier set and likely many more show-stopping jewels than we have seen yet (thinking of those emeralds she wore in NYC) It seems like it has taken Kate a little while to feel comfortable wearing the grander pieces but I don't think it's an indication she doesn't own them outright.

Because, Faith, I don't believe that Kate owns either. Look, she married a man who was so cheap that he didn't even bother to purchase an original engagement ring. What makes you think that he would've paid the duty on the Cartier set, when he and his wife returned to the UK? (Apparently, thats what royals have to do in order to claim ownership of items gifted when abroad--otherwise, the Crown owns it, not Kate, and I see no difference between loans from the Queen, the Crown, or a decent jewellery shop. In all of these cases, Kate owns zip; she can't sell it, gift it to her daughter or her future daughter-in-law, or leave it as a bequest in her will.)

I would rather see Kate wearing less expensive, but classic, jewellery which she actually OWNS. Too bad she isn't a trust fund baby, too bad that her parents don't gift her with jewellery, too bad that her husband doesn't. Must be pretty chilly in the stratosphere Kate inhabits.

I have always thought that Diana, who was a trust fund kid, had it made in the shade, financially, but that she was emotionally deprived, whereas Kate seemingly has plenty of emotional support from her parents, but zero financial. My conclusion is that noone crazy enuf to marry into the Wacky Windsor World should do so without both substantial financial and emotional support.

JC-sometimes I feel like I'm on a roller coaster ride when I read your comments.Wheee! Here we go again. My head is spinning, following your logic.As soon as I sort it all out, I will try to respond in some fashion.Or maybe not.You are always charming and interesting. There's that.

@ anon 1. Whoever said I was logical? Certainly not my long-suffering husband! Nor my father, for that matter. Nope, I simply say whatever I happen to think on any given topic, which is not necessarily the truth--who knows what that is, after all?--but it is my truth, and as long as I can re-read my comments on this site without wishing to dive under my desk, I am content.

Been called interesting before, but charming?! Good grief!

Truth is--but keep it to yourself--I was trying to get a rise out of royalfan; we have a history when it comes to Kate's engagement ring, so I try to slip in a reference whenever I can.

Oh JC, I think its not just royalfan you try to get a rise out of. Anyway, regarding the Cartier set, Cartier has gone on record saying the necklace was not a loan and the palace stated that it was from her own personal collection, so I think she does own them. They could have been a wedding gift.

Oh, JC, you always inspire debate! Of course, I'm in the same court as royalfan when it comes to the engagement ring, but if my mother/grandmother/inlaws had insanely gorgeous jewels they would loan to me for use whenever I wanted I would count myself as fantastically lucky! Why would she need to sell any of those things? She will have access to them for the rest of her life and so will Charlotte and whomever George marries.

Personally she has roughly $60,000.00 worth of Kiki McDonough earrings alone. Who's to say they aren't gifts from her family or William? As to the Cartier pieces, there is a Cartier in London with no duty to pay. They didn't have to go to France for them. Her Mappin & Webb jewelry is worth about $13,000 not to mention the $6,000.00 Cartier watch that we know was a gift from William. I don't think Kate is "poor" when it comes to her personal jewelry.

Oh, JC, if we cannot agree on the sentimental significance (from William's perspective) of the engagement ring, perhaps you will agree that it took a royal set of walnuts to put the spotlight on it, AND stir up even more memories of Diana, after the Windsor's spent over a decade trying to sweep them under the rug. Hopefully, you will agree or Anon 1 may end up with severe cramps while sorting under that desk! :)

And what are your thoughts on this ... it is both reasonable and likely that Kate was given jewelry as wedding gifts that we have not seen yet. She does have a penchant for small pieces and while I don't wish to dismiss the personal significance or value, they are not the most camera friendly, are they? And Robin, I do agree that she is not poor in the personal jewelry department, but if we have to look at a photo and debate the color of her Kiki stones, they are small. :)

I've been very happy to see her bringing out some larger pieces and hope the trend continues. To repeat myself here, it's about balancing the overall look, especially if she wears her hair down.

Interesting, royalfan. I've never juxtaposed the Diana ring/Windsor whitewashissues. William really was serving notice and calling a few bluffs and while he was at it- fanned a few embers. Diana memories don't take much jogging.

Okay, I can see that you guys have colluded and ganged up on me. Fine. Just remember, the summer doldrums are long and slow giving me plenty of time to demolish you, one by one. Get your armour polished, your lances at the ready, and be prepared to joust!

In the meantime, I have a few words to deliver; those named should take heed.

Clearly, I misplaced my faith in you, anon 1. So much for keeping secrets, Traitor! royalfan somehow got wind of my whisper to you--clearly, you are to blame. You may be my first kill at the summer jousts.

Faith, you make me weep; take those rose-coloured glasses off--both the Palace and Clarence House have been lying to us for years; as for Cartier, just doing as directed by the royal spin doctors? Never mind; if you insist upon seeing the world as it isn't, you'll be easier to finish off in August.

Robin, I am not keen on your username; henceforth, I declare you Robin, Simple & Clean. (Umm, you do bathe every once in while?)

Foolish one, set up your own court; to heck with royalfan, not that I am employing ye olde tried and true: Divide and Conquer; I would never stoop so low.

See you finally chimed in, royalfan, no doubt due to the Traitor (see above). Agreed; hell will freeze over before I believe that W gave K his mothers engagement ring out of sentiment. I take the more practical point-of-view: it was available and it was free.

I am not getting your reference to chestnuts--what I know about same, in a nutshell, is that they're awfully good when roasted. Fill me in; what have I missed?

Have you been keeping track of the summer challenges I have issued you? Hmm, I thought not; this augers well for yours truly--first, I will skewer you, then I will roast you, but I won't eat you; not a cannibal.

JC, I realize that August 1st will be here before we know it, but I hope you will tear yourself away from the preparations to consider this ... IF there was zero sentiment behind the choice of Kate's engagement ring and William made the decision based on convenience and price tag alone, don't you think Charles would have been willing and happy to pay for ANY other ring just to keep this one locked away in the royal vault during his lifetime? As Lizzie stated, 90% of the photos of Kate feature the ring and I can only imagine family dinners with the candlelight making it sparkle even more!

And while you take a moment to consider this, I have some polishing to do..... :)

JC, I choose to take your reference to me being "Simple & Clean" as a compliment. I muddle everything with facts and I take no prisoners. Beware! Now, excuse me while I go try out my new bath salts. My first plan of attack will be to smell so intoxicatingly of gardenias that you will be lulled into lethargy. (evil laugh inserted here)

My favourite, favourite ultimate favourite dress of the Kate's - simply stunning in all its' shimmery, mermaidy, sequin glory - so glad we got to see it again - I think the first time she wore it was so special and it was the golden age of Kate - but I do think she looked fabulous tonight also, if not in a slightly different more mature way - beautiful look- what a special dress x

This was really the perfect dress to wear tonight and I love the jewellery Kate chose with it. I never thought the Links earrings from the first wear worked with this. I also love the updo, it really shows off the top of the gown to perfection.

Despite all that, I somehow didn't think Kate looked amazing. I'm not sure what it is but she looked a little tired to me...

I could be wrong but I doubt she does her own updos. My thought is that requires her full attention while aiming for perfection from all angles. If someone does her hair she can multi-task doing something else (talking to her children, tending to another grooming task, reading, etc). I've heard that Sandringham, which is very close to their home, has a staff of hairstylists that she can use - this supposedly explains how on Christmas Day she managed an updo.~ A

I agree this less structured updo would be hard to do for oneself (and be sure it was even and stable) Some of the more structured ones Kate's worn (at least the the ones without the odd side horizontal twisty pieces) would be pretty easy to do alone as they appear to use a roll/form. Another person (Will maybe, more likely a woman such as the nanny, housekeeper) would be needed only to check to see that the form was completely covered with hair from all angles.

Does Sandringham have a haircare staff all yr or was the staff there in Dec only because HM was in residence? I'd have thought the latter so I'd have thought Cook was brought in to prep for this event.

Good point, Lizzie. If they don't have year round staff at Sandringham for that having Amanda brought in makes sense. Unless potentially one of the Sandringham stylists is a local and can be brought on when needed. If it was Amanda, let's just hope they didn't helicopter her in ;-)

I too love this gown, but i also love the teal Jenny Packham dress she wore. I hope that one day that dress will be used again. I know many don't really care for the dress that the marchioness is wearing, but i had a theory, maybe Catherine and Rose called each other on the phone and Rose said, "I'll wear something shiny if you wear something shiny, and Catherine said sure. But again that's just my theory. Lol. Also, is the jaguar William and Kate's personal car? Or do they just have the Audi's and the Range Rover?

Jaguar and Land Rover have the same parent company and often have joint dealerships so it's not that odd. Also, the BRF leases Jaguars for chauffeur drive cars, too. I can't speak for this specific vehicle, but I've heard it reported some vehicles are jointly leased for W&K and Harry and they share as needed.~ A

Right away I noticed that Kate was holding a wine glass, which so rare and it made me happy because it seems like Kate feels truly comfortable in her skin as a Duchess - dripping with diamonds and feeling like she can let her hair down a bit (or up as the case may be!) even though all eyes are on her.

This dress was hands down my absolute favorite look of HRH, long awaiting this re-wear and this evening could not have been more perfect. She was glowing against the setting sun and the vibrant green lawn, loved every bit of it.

Great setting for this dress. I think the dress looks better with Kate's hair up. I am not sure the dress fits quite as well as it did in 2011 though.

I think the bracelet is lovely, not too old-fashioned and certainly historic but I don't care for it with this outfit for 2 reasons. 1. I think it is hard to combine Swarovski crystals and sequins with actual diamonds. While the bracelet looks fine in pictures, I'm not sure it would in person against the sequin/crystal backdrop. 2. While mixing metals is OK, I think the "antique silvery color" of the diamond bracelet makes the gold on the clutch look cheap. So I'd have liked bare arms as on the first wearing.

I agree Kate exudes more confidence in the photos taken in this setting. I am sure there are lots of reasons for that. But for me, seeing her without her clutch "clutched" with both hands in front of her body automatically makes her look more confident and comfortable.

I loved this gown the first time and was very happy to see it again. Although I admit to wishing for a tighter updo, perhaps it was a combination of angles and the sunlight highlighting the looser strands of hair. Overall, however, definitely a very stunning evening look. Kate is on a roll, is she not?!

The lilac McQueen is so beautiful, Robin. Now that the blush JP has been brought out, I have high hopes.

I never felt that the gown engulfed her, royalfan. The skirt is voluminous but the material so diaphanous that it just floats and swirls along with her.... and Im imagining it with some of the grander jewels :-)

That slender figure is what made her look like she was floating on air. And now that she has more fabulous jewelry I think it could be even more spectacular. Those amethyst Kiki's would be great, anon 2:39, and so would one of her diamond bracelets to sparkle along with the belt she wore. I'm getting excited just thinking about it!

Lovely, lovely post!I absolutely loved the dress, the jewels, the hair, but above all the ligthing made the outing amazing!She looked so perfect, serene and elegant! Beautiful and angelical!The dress was perfection!

Thank you for your comments, now I know exactly why the looks was such a success! :D

It seems like it was a magical evening. The Duchess looked completely confident and comfortable in her own skin. I liked the first wear better, but this time was also absolutely stunning with its more mature and confident blingy vibe. D.

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Welcome to the blog! I am Jane Barr and I write From Berkshire to Buckingham. I am an American Anglophile-Francophile (Yes, they can co-exist. :)) I have been following Kate since she began dating William at St Andrews. I began the blog in my favorite Starbucks while living in Los Angeles, CA, just before William and Kate married. See my Welcome page (in the navigation bar) for more about the blog, and follow me on Twitter (@princesskate_GB) and Instagram (@fromberkshiretobuckingham) for more of my royal content.